Abstract

The unique physical and surface properties of nanomaterials (e.g., confinement effects, high surface-to-volume ratio, and shorter diffusion pathways for charge carriers) are promising to enhance the efficiency of devices for sustainable energy production, conversion and storage. Along the manifold morphologies, metal oxide nanowires are attractive to improve the performance of electrode materials both for storage (Li Ion Batteries) and electrocatalytic (Photoelectrochemical Cells) applications. However, the practical use of nanomaterials is often imposed with the lack of scalable and cost-efficient synthesis procedures and the challenge of integrating 1D nanomaterials under preservation of their structural features into devices. Electrospinning allows the scalable nanofiber production of different composition (polymers, ceramics and composites) and their inclusion into device fabrication. Examples of electrospun nanowire-meshes in devices for energy conversion and storage are given.

© 2013 Optical Society of America